Richards Bay kept pace with Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the table after clinching a last-gasp 1-0 win over Cape Town City at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday night.
Eric Tinkler’s side created by far the better chances and the Natal Rich Boyz had Jamal Salim to thank for keeping them in the contest before an own-goal from Lyle Lakay in added time handed them an unlikely victory.
The Natal Rich Boys moved level on 22 points with the Brazilians, who beat Marumo Gallants to reclaim top spot, with the Citizens dropping to 13th in the standings after suffering their first defeat in seven matches.
Both teams came into the clash on the back of two successive draws and unbeaten in their last six league encounters.
City shaded possession in the first half but were far more productive with the ball and created a good start to go ahead on eight minutes when Khanyisa Mayo fired straight at Salim from inside the area after being fed by Mduduzi Mdantsane.
Abel Mabaso then threatened twice for the hosts, shooting narrowly over the crossbar from range in the 12th minute before dragging an effort wide of the near post from inside the six-yard box on the right on 24 minutes.
Salim was called into action again just before the half-hour mark to deny Darwin Gonzalez after he advanced into the box following good link-up play with Mayo, while Lyle Lakay drew another save out of the goalkeeper with a strike from range on 32 minutes.
The visitors finished the half strongly as they pushed for the opening goal, with Wayde Lekay testing Salim from inside the area on 38 minutes before the Richards Bay shotstopper produced an outstanding double save to keep out Lyle Lakay’s 43rd-minute free-kick and Thamsanqa Mkhize on the follow-up.
The Mother City outfit were quickly on the attack after the restart as Mayo and Wayde Lekay forced Salim into saves with their respective efforts from inside the area in the opening eight minutes.
The Citizens finally had the ball in the back of the net on 58 minutes when Mdantsane slotted his volley past Salim, only to see the assistant referee raise his flag for offside.
Darren Keet was eventually given some work to do on 70 minutes as he pulled off a fine save from Luvuyo Memela’s long-range strike, while back up the other end Salim had to be alert to keep out shots from Wayde Lekay and Brice Ambina in the space of three minutes.
Salim’s heroics would turn out to be crucial as Richards Bay snatched a stoppage-time winner after Lyle Lakay inadvertently deflected Sakhile Hlongwa’s shot past Keet to gift Richards Bay all three points.
Richards Bay (0) 1 (L. Lakay OG 90+1′)
Cape Town City (0) 0
Richards Bay: J. Salim, K. Maphathe, N. Nyauza, S. Mthethwa, T. Mabua, S. Barns, A. Mabaso (N. Mdabuka 78′), M. Mathebula, L. Memela (B. Mthembu 86′), Y. Mbuthuma (S. Mthethwa 63′), S. Ntsundwana (S. Hlongwa 86′).
Cape Town City: D. Keet, T. Mkhize, K. Cupido, T. Mokeke, K. Mayo, M. Makola (T. Nodada 72′), B. Ambina, M. Mdantsane (T. Goedeman 77′), L. Lakay, W. Lekay (L. Daniels 77′), D. Gonzalez.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
